Rush, AFL set for 2011 return

Fred Mitchell, Tribune reporterCHICAGO TRIBUNE

The owners of the Rush are making plans to return the team to Chicago in 2011 in a revamped Arena Football League.

"I think it's great," co-owner Mike Ditka said Thursday. "I had a feeling it would be (back) a year down the road. I think the league has a purpose. It is a good form of entertainment and a good form of developing some of these kids to see if they can make the next step (to the NFL). Some of them can. But even the ones who can't, it's a great chance for them to show the talents they have and play the game they love."

The Rush franchise was created in 2001 and reached the playoffs all eight seasons before the league folded last year. The Rush, winners of the ArenaBowl in 2006, were the most televised AFL team and averaged 98 percent capacity at their home games during the 2008 season.

"Philadelphia and Chicago were two teams that drew a little better than others," Ditka said. "We have a good fan base. It wasn't franchises like Chicago and Philadelphia that caused the problem. It was probably some (other teams) owned by NFL owners who felt like they didn't want to step up (financially)."

Rush co-owners Arthur Price, Peter Levin and Alan Levin join Ditka in believing that perhaps fewer teams and a more manageable league setup will keep the franchises afloat.

"They cut it down a little bit and I think they will have a better product," Ditka said. "I don't think you need that many teams, and I think you should ... concentrate on the National Football League cities."

Ditka says he was pleasantly surprised by the quality of play in the AFL.

"In the beginning people thought this was kind of a gimmick thing," he said. "But when you see this game played on such a small playing surface, it is a lot quicker."